Osteospermum plant named ‘Saksiscopye’

ABSTRACT

A new  Osteospermum  plant particularly distinguished by having pale-yellow flowers with copper tips, medium flower size and compact plant growth habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Osteospermum hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Saksiscopye’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

‘Saksiscopye’ originated from a hybridization of proprietary hybrid Osteospermum breeding line ‘203005’ (unpatented) and commercial hybrid Osteospermum line ‘Sunny Amanda’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,522) in Aabyhoej, Denmark. The male parent, ‘Sunny Amanda’, has a pale-yellow flower color with terracotta-brown at the flower petal apices, medium flower size and brown disc florets. The female parent, ‘203005’ has a bright-yellow flower color, medium flower size and a compact and less branching plant growth habit.

In spring 2003, the two Osteospermum lines were crossed and 552 seeds were obtained. The seeds were sown and 442 plants were grown in pots for evaluation. Out of 442 F₁ lines, plant number 206 was selected for its pale-yellow flowers with copper tips, medium flower size and a compact plant growth habit.

In spring 2004, plant number 206 was vegetatively propagated with cuttings and re-evaluated in an open field and a greenhouse. Plant number 206 was given the code number ‘204066’.

In spring 2005, plants were evaluated again in pots and in an open field. The selection ‘204066’ was named ‘Saksiscopye’ and found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Salinas, Calif.

-   -   1. Pale-yellow flower color with copper tips;     -   2. Medium flower size; and     -   3. Compact plant growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPH

This new Osteospermum plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage and flowers. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘Saksiscopye’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Salinas, Calif. Data was collected on plants grown approximately six months from transplanting rooted cuttings into 5-inch pots under greenhouse conditions in Salinas, Calif. Color references are to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 4^(th) edition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Compositae.         -   Botanical.—Osteospermum hybrida. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—An individual plant of Osteospermum line             ‘203005’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—An individual plant of Osteospermum line ‘Sunny             Amanda’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,522). -   Growth:     -   -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Cuttings will colonize a             2.5 cm diameter by 2.5 cm tall greenhouse tray cell with             peat-based plant media in approximately four weeks. Cuttings             are dipped in a normal dilution (1:9) of DIP 'N GROW             root-inducing solution in water. The trays are misted hourly             during rooting.         -   Environmental conditions for plant growth—Rooted cuttings             are transplanted to pots with a 16 cm diameter, one plant             per pot. Peat-based growing media is used. The pots are             watered using a 150-200 ppm fertilizer solution containing             18% nitrogen, 8% phosphorus and 18% potassium. The soil is             allowed to dry between waterings. During the first few weeks             after transplanting, the plants have evening temperatures             around 15°-18° C. for good root growth. When plants reach             7.5-10 cm in height they are pinched back to 5-6 leaves to             promote branching. Spring and summer daytime high             temperatures in Salinas, Calif., where the data was             collected, range from 16°-25° C.         -   Time to bloom from propagation.—Approximately four weeks             after rooted vegetative cuttings are transferred to a 5-inch             diameter pot. Flowering season is year-round in the United             States. Vernalization is not required to induce flowering. -   Plant description:     -   -   Habit.—Compact and branching.         -   Life cycle.—Perennial.         -   Form.—Branching, dense.         -   Height (from soil line to first node).—2 cm.         -   Height (from soil line to top of foliage).—18 cm to 20 cm.         -   Width.—23 cm to 25 cm. -   Stems:     -   -   Internode length.—1.0 cm to 2.0 cm.         -   Stem shape.—Round.         -   Stem diameter.—0.4 cm to 0.5 cm.         -   Stem color.—RHS 187A (Greyed-purple) on 50% of the stem and             RHS 1 38B (Green) on the other 50% of the stem; RHS 138B             (green) at soil line.         -   Pubescence.—Heavy.         -   Pubescence shape.—Linear, fuzzy in appearance.         -   Pubescence color.—RHS N155A (White).         -   Anthocyanin color.—RHS 187A (Greyed-purple). -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Venation.—Anastomosing.         -   Surface.—Upper surface is smooth while lower surface is             rough.         -   Surface pubescence.—Slight pubescence.         -   Attachment.—Decurrant.         -   Length.—3.5 cm to 4.0 cm.         -   Width.—1.5 cm.         -   Thickness.—0.5 cm.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 138A (Green). Lower surface: RHS             138B (Green).         -   Venation color (both surfaces).—RHS 138B (Green). -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Number per plant.—8.         -   Type.—Capitulum (head); Disc florets are perfect and ray             florets are carpellate.         -   Flowering habit.—Determinate.         -   Lastingness of flowers.—3 to 4 days.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Seed production.—None observed.         -   Diameter.—7.0 cm.         -   Depth.—1.0 cm to 1.5 cm.         -   Disc diameter.—1.8 cm to 2.0 cm.         -   Disc floret number.—180 to 200 per inflorescence.         -   Peduncle length.—5.5 cm from inflorescence to first node.         -   Peduncle diameter.—0.25 cm.         -   Peduncle color.—RHS 138B (Green).         -   Peduncle texture.—Dull, moderate pubescent.         -   Phyllaries.—Arrangement: 22 per inflorescence, free,             arranged symmetrically. Length: 1.0 cm to 1.2 cm. Width:             0.10 cm to 0.20 cm. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Shape:             Linear, acute. Color: Upper surface: RHS 138B (Green) with             RHS 187A (greyed-purple) tips. Lower surface: RHS 138A             (Green) with RHS 187A (greyed-purple) tips. -   Ray florets (ligules):     -   -   Corolla.—One petal per ray floret; only the outer row of             florets are the ray florets.         -   Number of ray florets per inflorescence.—26.         -   Length.—3.0 cm.         -   Width.—0.8 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 12A (Yellow) with slight streaks             of RHS 17A (Yellow-orange) and RHS 187A (Greyed-purple) at             the tip. Lower surface: RHS 187A (Greyed-purple) with             streaks of RHS 12A (Yellow) and RHS 187A (Greyed-purple) at             the tip.         -   Pubescence.—Glabrous.         -   Ovary.—Superior.         -   Pistil form.—One style with two stigma branches.         -   Pistil length.—0.4 cm.         -   Stigma color.—RHS N187A (Greyed-purple).         -   Style color.—RHS N187A (Greyed-purple). -   Disc florets:     -   -   Color.—RHS 133C (Green).         -   Number.—180 to 200 per inflorescence.         -   Shape.—Tubular.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Surface.—Dull, pubescent.         -   Size.—Length: 0.5 cm. Width: 0.5 cm.         -   Pistil form.—One style with two stigma branches.         -   Ovary.—Superior.         -   Style color.—RHS N187A (Greyed-purple).         -   Stigma color.—RHS N187A (Greyed-purple).         -   Stamens.—5, fused into a single tube.         -   Anther color.—RHS N187A (Greyed-purple).         -   Pollen color.—RHS 17A (Yellow-orange).         -   Filament color.—RHS 11A (Yellow). -   Disease and insect resistance: Very disease resistant, however,     plants are susceptible to aphids, thrips, whiteflies and worms.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN CULTIVARS

‘Saksiscopye’ is a distinct variety of Osteospermum owing to its pale-yellow flower color with copper tips, medium flower size and compact plant growth habit. ‘Saksiscopye’ is distinguished from its parents primarily by ray floret color, flower size, disc floret color and plant growth habit as described in Table 1 (color references are to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 4^(th) edition):

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Male Parent ‘Sunny Amanda’ (U.S. Plant Female Patent No. Parent Characteristic ‘Saksiscopye’ 16,522) ‘203005’ Ray floret RHS 12A (Yellow) Pale yellow with Bright (ligule) color, with slight streaks of terracotta-brown yellow upper surface: RHS 17A (yellow- tips orange) and RHS 187A (greyed- purple) at the tip Flower size Large Medium Medium Disc florets Green Blue Green- color Brown Plant habit Mounded and Globular Compact compact

‘Saksiscopye’ is most similar to the Osteospermum plant ‘Summertime Sunrise’ (unpatented); however, there are differences as described in Table 2 (color references are to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 4^(th) edition):

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety ‘Summertime Characteristic ‘Saksiscopye’ Sunrise’ Ray floret (ligule) RHS 12A (Yellow) Pale yellow-cream color, upper surface: with slight streaks of with pink streaks RHS 17A (yellow- and a pink ring orange) and RHS around flower eye 187A (greyed-purple) at the tip Ray floret (ligule) RHS 187A (Greyed- Yellow with grey- color, lower surface: purple) streaks of brown stripes RHS 12A (yellow) streaks and RHS 187A (greyed-purple) at the tip Plant growth habit Very compact Compact Flower stalk length Short Medium 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant as shown and described herein. 